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The Frontier Post (Pakistan) January 12, 2002 "Seleznyov said that Moscow 'does not want U.S. or NATO Bases to be durably installed' in the former Soviet republics of central Asia...." Russia for end to US bombing DUSHANBE (APP): Russia called Friday for an end to US bombings in Afghanistan and reaffirmed its opposition to the long-term presence of US or NATO bases in its former backyard in the Central Asian republics.Moscow "wishes peace to return as soon as possible to Afghanistan and is against the current bombing going on indefinitely," the speaker of the State Duma (lower house) Gennady Seleznyov said on his arrival for talks in Dushanbe. Washington has kept up its bombing raids in parts of Afghanistan despite the collapse of the Taliban regime in November, and on Thursday attacked a cave complex in eastern Khost province where members of the al-Qaeda terrorist network were believed to be hiding out. Seleznyov added that Moscow "does not want US or NATO bases to be durably installed" in the former Soviet republics of central Asia, its traditional sphere of influence. He made a similar statement in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday, reflecting Russian concern at the possibility of a permanent US military presence on its southern flank. He noted that Russia has a collective security pact with the central Asian states and added that they "must not take any decisions without joint consultations in the framework of the treaty." The United States currently has nearly 2,000 troops based in Uzbekistan, along with troops based in Tajikistan and up to 3,000 US and other foreign troops are expected to arrive soon at the Manas base near the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
